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uRY and PEACE 






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A PAGEANT 
OF VICTORY AND PEACE 

WITH A THRENODY 
FOR THOSE WHO FELL 



WORDS BY THOMAS WOOD STEVENS 
MUSIC BY HARVEY B. GAUL 



1919 

C. C. BIRCHARD & COMPANY 

BOSTON 






COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY 
C. C. BIRCHARD & CO. 

INTERNAnONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED 

Notice: The acting rights to this work 
are held by C. C. Birchard & Co. No 
performance may take place without 
written permission. Applicants should 
state the circumstances under which the 
production is to be made, and terms 
will be communicated by the publishers. 
The copying, either of separate parts 
or the whole of this work, by any pro- 
cess whatsoever is forbidden by law and 
subject to the penalties prescribed by 
Sec. 28, Copyright Law, in force July 1, 
1919. 



o.U/^^^^ 



©OLD 52950 



/\ lc 



A Pageant of Victory and Peace 

Programme as Originally Produced by 

CARNEGIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 

In Memory of the 

Carnegie Men Who Lost Their Lives in the War 

Words by Thomas Wood Stevens 

Music for the Choruses by Harvey B. Gaul 
Production Directed by B. Iden Payne 
Orchestra Directed by J. Vick O'Brien 

DRAMATIS PERSONAE 

Alma Mater Blanche Levy 

America Veolante Bollinger 

First Herald of Victory Alexander L. Buchanan 

Second Herald Carl B. Reld 

Third Herald B. Irving Dickinson 

Victory Ruth Farmer 

The Crusader James S. Church 

Death Dorothy Rubenstein 

The Maiden Mary Ricards 

The Wife Alma Lotz 

The Mother Sara Floyd 

Youth Kenneth Thomson 

Time C. Frederick Steen 

Liberty Beatrice Heinrich 

Justice Howard Claney 

Britain Howard F. Smith 

France Mary Lissfelt 

Italy Howard McClenahan 

Poland Hazel Beck 

Peace Mary Blair 

Presences of the Entente and the Re-established Nations, of Science, Art, 
Industry, Womanhood, and their Groups 

Stage Management and Speaking Parts by nhe School of Drama. 

Orchestra from the School of Music. 

Stage Settings by the School of Architecture. 

Decorative Accessories by the School of Painting and Decoration. 

Lighting by Alexander Buchanan. Dancing directed by Mary Ricards. 

Costumes directed by Sara Evelyn Bennett. 

[3] 



The Action of the Pageant 

Episode I 

VICTORY 

The Community Spirit proclaims a solemn festival. She is 
joined by the civic groups, led by Science, Industry, Art and 
Faith. America enters, is welcomed by the Community 
Spirit, and takes her stand, awaiting the return of her sons 
from overseas. 

The Heralds of Victory come to recount the progress of the 
American arms, and the final success; Victory flames forth 
as on a homeward prow, and to her trumpets the Crusaders 
come, America rejoicing in their return. 

Episode II 

THRENODY 

The Community Spirit, meeting the Crusaders before the 
throne of silent Death, demands of them an account of the 
lost. The First Crusader replies that they fell, but rose to 
follow Death. The Chorus of Women lament them: 

Oh gleaner of the field of zvar, 
How many brave — hozv many brave 
Have fallen to thy harvest-tide? 
Hozv many strong — hozv many strong 
In hope and love, zvith thee abide, 
Oh gleaner of the field of zuar? 

Oh gleaner Death! Oh gleaner Death! 
Hozv many zveep — hozv many zveep 
Through all the lands this year of zvoe? 
Hozv many men — hozv many men 
Have touched thy garment bending so, 
And come not home — not home again? 
Oh gleaner Death! Oh gleaner Death! 

The voice of the Maiden is heard in lyric sorrow, and of 
Death the Chorus demands: 

[4] 



For those who silent loved and lost, 

For all the dreamers unfulfilled, 

What is thy word, oh Death, thy zuord? 

For hopes that jailed and lives that crossed 

As thou hast willed — as thou hast willed, 

What is thy word, oh Death, thy word? 

To the Maiden, Death makes reply, and Taps, sounding 
from the distance, speaks to her heart of the sleep of the 
soldier. The Wife raises her voice, and for her the Chorus 
asks^ of Death : 

For the mate of the bird the storm hath driven 

To break his wings on the rock, 

What is thy word, oh Death, thy word? 

At Life's full stream, Love deeply given. 

Wilt thou dare, oh Death, to mock? 

What is thy word, oh Death, thy word? 

Death answers; again the bugle calls, and the voice of the 
Mother, speaking alone; and for her, the Chorus: 

To her who has borne a son 

And given a son. 

What shall be spoken? 

To the mothers of men. 

Now that the life they gave is broken, 

Is dead — 

What shall be said? 

Again Death replies, and the call sounds fainter; the Maiden, 
the Wife and the Mother cry out antiphonally, and the 
Chorus mourns: 

Oh desolate hearth and roof-tree broken down, 

Oh house of tears! 

Oh city bowed, oh land made dark 

Through the marching years! 

What shall bring back to us now 

From their far sleep 

The lads who fell? And what shall we do. 

Save remember — and weep? 

Remember, and weep. 

[5] 



The Crusader protests against their prostrate spirits, and 
the Community Spirit counsels resignation to the inevitable 
loss. But now, slowly, Death is transformed, and in a flood 
of golden light proclaims herself the last measure of devo- 
tion, author of ever-living honor, Life-in-Glory. And the 
Chorus, lifted in exaltation, responds: 

Oh Life in Glory! Ye that died to live — 

Live on! Oh treaders of the pathway of the stars! 

Episode III 

PEACE 

Youth calls upon Time for a vision to show wherein his 
sacrifice of life is justified. Time counsels him, and shows 
him Justice and Liberty, and the Nations in council. Youth 
hears their voices, and sees the re-establishment of the 
captive nations, and hears the voice of Amxerica in the plea 
for Peace. 

Peace enters, but may not re-ascend her throne because of 
the Imperial demands of the nations. America calls for the 
leaguing of the powers against aggressive war and Youth 
sees Peace again set foot upon her threshold. 
These visions Time Interprets, and Youth, again content^ 
sets out on his new pilgrimage. 



|6 



A PAGEANT OF 
VICTORY AND PEACE 

First Episode 

VICTORY 

[Trumpet calls— The Spirit of the Community 
enters; again the trumpet sounds, and as the 
notes die azuay, she speaks.] 



THE C O M ]M U N I T Y SPIRIT* 

For this, our city, for the purposes 

That must aspire within its walls, I speak, 

Saluting all. Now the old year is done, 

And the new hope looks forward, and I make 

To-night a solemn festival: give thanks 

For my strong sons returned from overseas; 

Give tears for those who fell — proud tears for those 

Who come not back; and last of all, look out 

Across the fields where still the dust of war 

Dims the clear vision, where America 

Beholds the new unfettered nations rise. 

And Peace, on hesitant wing, comes circling home. 

[She turns back as the music begins. Then, 
to a great March, enter the civic groups, led 
by Science, Art, Industry and Faith. These 
groups, henceforth representing the Commun- 
ity, and led by the Community Spirit, wheel to 
greet America, who enters with her group on 
the upper level at the right.] 

America, thou mighty spirit, hail! 

We greet thee and again submit ourselves. 

Our arts and sciences and industries. Command us. 

•Note: The Spirit of the Community should, of course, bear, in pro- 
duction, the name of the city; or, if the performance be given by a 
school or college, of Alma Mater. 

[7] 



AMERICA 

Not to the tasks of war I bend your powers, 
As once, a year ago — two years ago — they bent: 
Nor yet to the new ventures . . . Now I wait. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

What wait you ? 

AMERICA 

I wait my heart's return. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

Why watch you now.'*, .the word has come. . . 

AMERICA 

The word — ^yea, I have thrilled upon the word, 
And yet, I watch. The sea lanes now lie free. 
And the East wind blows joy. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

Why, so the Argive watchers on the wall 
Strained eyes to catch the fire from crag to crag. 
That told of Agamemnon's coming. 

AMERICA 

A greater thing I wait than they. 

Nor spread the purple floors for triumphs loud. 

The spoils and captives prophesying v/oe. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

And so they waited for the lone stripped sail 
That told of the Crusader's battles. 

AMERICA 

Yea, 

More like to them I wait who looked to see 

The shrine redeemed from whence their faith was sprung. 

Not hastily I went to war, 

But with a sword made quick by many wrongs 

And violent deeds and black injustices. 

I saw the nations ranged for Liberty, 

[8] 



For Justice and the common human right, 
'Gainst the despoiler's bHnd and smoking rage. 
I watched the Hne of flame creep over France, 
By trench and wave the toll of British dead. 
And the slow breaking of the Belgian heart. 
I launched my stroke the last, the longest stroke. 
Hard driven, with clean steel. And now I wait. 

[Trumpets are again heard, and enter, running 
together, the three Heralds of Victory. The 
Community Spirit moves, with her group, to 
America's side.] 

THE HERALDS 

Hail, America! 

AMERICA 

Hail, Heralds of my battle lines. 

FIRST HERALD 

I bring you word of our first day of fire. 
Long your armies lay, enforced quiet. 
Gathering power, as the slow thousands came, 
Division by division, host on host. 
And then, at last, the long-awaited sign! 
For us the pinnacle, the peak of chance 
And glory ... 

Behind us lay the open road to death — 
Death and disaster irretrievable — 
Unguarded save where we were left to guard. 
Upon us poured the gray floods of the foe. 
Clouded in rolling mists that smothered men; 
Above, the lightnings and the soaring wings. 
And on that moment and the world the touch 
Of wavering Fate. ... 

SECOND HERALD 

Write deep, America, 

The places where the stand was made — the names 

Of Belleau Wood, and Rouge Bouquet, 

And Chateau Thierry — where the foe broke back 

Stubbornly, day by bloody day, to Fismes. 

[9] 



FIRST HERALD 

Rejoice, for they who stood along that Hne 
Saved from the foe the high decision, saved 
All that our world holds dear. And for the lives 
There given, do not weep, for never lives 
Bought in their ending such a golden issue. 

THIRD HERALD 

Yet many a golden life went out, to hold 
The line along that shattered wood. 

FIRST HERALD 

They yielded not! 

SECOND HERALD 

And so the foe broke back. Again the sign, 
Again we struck, and where the sullen spear. 
Whose point was St. Mihiel, threatened the East, 
We drove our battle; Mont See's tattered flanks. 
Burrowed and mined and empty, where the blood 
Of France had sluiced away but yester year, 
Fell to our arms, and on the ring of Metz 
Our cannon rained their iron dissonance. 



THIRD HERALD 

Westward the thunder shifted. Westward then 
To the Argonne — the last and strongest line! 
And where the wooded hills, deep trenched, 
Roll to the open plains, our fire bit deep. 

SECOND HERALD 

Bit deep, but bitterly we felt the blast. 

THIRD HERALD 

There we poured our power, and echoes came 

Of victories along the west wind borne — 

Our brothers victories: 

Of sandy trenches on the Flanders coast 

After four desperate years won back; 

Of Hindenburg's vaunted wall pierced through, 

[10] 



And Sedan glimpsing once again, far off, 
But nearer, nearer still, the flags of France. 
The echoes cheered us on. The fight was won ! 
And now we come to hail thee — 

FIRST HERALD 

Every sail astrain across the foam — 

SECOND HERALD 

And every trumpet singing — ^Victory! 

[As they speak, Victory appears on the eleva- 
tion at the left. She is the color of flame, and 
her draperies blow backward as she stands like 
one on the prow of a ship, holding aloft her 
wreath of golden bay; behind her is a group 
of maidens with long trumpets of silver.] 

THE COMMUNITY GROUP 

Victory, Victory, Victory! 

A IM E R I c A 

Hail, Victory. Let the music soar, and beat 

The ground with your rejoicing feet. But I — 

I wait. . . . 

[From behind America comes a group of danc- 
ers, who fill the central space with a triumphant 
bacchanal. At the end of the dance, drums are 
heard from the left, and America speaks.] 

Now the East grows quick. 

Break off — ye that make glad with Victory. 

I hear the bugles, feel the throb, the march 

Of my returning sons. I wait no more. 

But now, in truth and in God's light, rejoice! 

[Music. Enter the groups representing the 
various returning Services. They come to cen- 
tre, the Community group going to right, and 
the Heralds to the left, with Victory. When 
they are in place their flag is raised aloft, and 
the music changes to the National Anthem. 
At the close, the groups vanish in darkness.] 

nil 



Episode II 

THRENODY 

[Out of darkness, gradually lifting, appears 
enthroned, at the centre, a veiled figure — mys- 
terious and aloof — the figure of Death. To a 
solemn music the field below is illuminated as 
with a pale moonlight, and by swaying torches 
borne on high by mysterious figures. After 
the torchbearers come the procession of the 
Chorus, veiled women and maidens; the torch- 
bearers group themselves on the elevations at 
the sides of the stage; the Chorus at the centre^ 
surrounding Death's throne, facing outward. 
To a second musical strain enter, on the op- 
posite sides of the stage, the Community Spirit 
and the Crusader, each with a group with 
juried banners. As the music ceases, the 
Community Spirit speaks:^ 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

What of my sons who come not home? 

Where lie they — soldier — they that fight no more? 

THE CRUSADER 

They camped with us, and still in memory 
Answer the bugles; some there were that slept 
Too deep for waking when we marched away. 
They sailed with us, and some the bitter sea 
'Whelmed in the sinking of the painted ships. 
They fought with us, and by our side they fell 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

They fell and rose no more? 

THE CRUSADER [Indicating Death'] 
They rose to follow her. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

And who is she they followed? 

[12] 



THE CRUSADER 

She who sits yonder. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

I know her not, but terror in my heart 
Chills at her presence. 

THE CRUSADER 

She has been with us 

Too long for terror; she has flown above 

In the pale moonlight, ridden the thunder home, 

And floated in the fatal cloud of hate 

That rolled across our trenches. We have come 

To know her well, and we no longer fear. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT [To Death] 
Who art thou? 

THE CRUSADER 

She will not answer. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

Is she ever silent? 

THE CRUSADER 

She speaks to us in battle, gloriously. 

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

If she lift voice to you in battle, here 
Shall she be silent? Shall not tears avail, 
Nor the dark empty spaces in the heart. 
Nor desolate nights, nor days uncomforted? 
These things are mine. Dark spirit, answer me, 
Who art thou? 

DEATH 

I am Death. 

Chorus 

Oh gleaner of the field of war, 
How many brave — how many brave 
Are fallen to thy harvest-tide? 

[13] 



How many strong — how many strong, 
In hoJ)e and love, with thee abide. 
Oh gleaner of the field of war? 

Oh gleaner Death, oh Gleaner Death, 
How many weep — hozu many iveep 
Through all the lands this year of woe? 
How many men — how many men 
Have touched thy garment bending so, 
And come not home — not home again — 
Oh gleaner Death — Oh gleaner Death! 

[As the Chorus closes, one figure — a Maiden — 
momentarily dominates the bowed and stricken 
groups.^ 

THE MAIDEN 

Spring — it was spring — and the bloom 

On the orchard was pale as the snow 

In a rose-ht dawn, 

When I saw him last — when I touched him last 

When he turned at the gate to go, 

And life was sweet as the orchard wind that blew in the face 

of doom, — 
Death — oh Death — He is gone. 

Straight and tall — straight and tall — 

Home from the camps for a day — a day, 

Smiling and gay. 

And he said no word, and I said no word 

Of the words we longed to say. 

And the years to come that we both could read in the 

silences, and all — 
And now . . . 
I would I had spoken, and he had heard. 

Flags — there were flags in the sun. 
Streaming victorious banners ablaze 
Overhead — everywhere . . . 
But what of the promise Life made to me 
And to him in the blossoming days, 

[14] 



When a silence was all he could give, and a word was more 

than my heart would dare. 
And now — oh Death — It is done! 
And I lock my lips and I lock my heart, 
And what shall become of me? 

Chorus 

For those who silent loved and lost, 
For all the dreamers unfulfilled, 

What is thy word — oh Death — thy word? 
For hopes that failed and lives that crossed 
As thou hast willed — as thou hast willed, 

What is thy word — oh Death — thy word? 

DEATH 

Maiden, I give thee a vision unstained 
By the years — and stainless forever, 
To lock in a nation's heart, and to lift 
Not this youth — but all youth — on high 
As a flam.e of the breath of God. 

[As she ceases to speak, there comes, as from 
a great distance, the call of Taps; the Chorus, 
listening, moves slowly, and as the last note 
dies away, the group is seen to be dominated 
by another figure, the Wife.] 

T H E W I F E 

I cannot bear to look on roses now, 
Nor any soft, sweet thing that seems to breathe: 
The little airs that touch me on the brow — 
The clouds with all the whispering rain beneath — 
I cannot bear to look on roses now. 

The twilight sounds that tremble Into rhyme, 
They sting me — all the bees of memory 
That gather on the fadeless flower of time. 
And all the golden words he made for me — 
The tVv'IJIght sounds that tremble Into rhyme. 

[IS] 



How shall I learn to face the night again— 
The empty winds that kiss my cheek and pass, 
The dreary moments I forget — and then 
The changeless shadow on the brittle glass: 
How shall I learn to face the night again? 

The Chorus 

For the mate of the bird the storm hath driven 

To break his wings on the rock, 

What is thy word — oh Death — thy word? 

At Life's full stream, love deeply given, 

Wilt thou dare, oh Death, to mock? 

What is thy word — oh Death — thy word? 

DEATH 

Woman, as deeply as his love 

Hath scored thy spirit, I have written there 

Words, not to thee, but to his children 

And thine, words of heroical fire. 

Look thou within. Live on. 

And if ever again the world 

Shake with the trumpets and thunders, 

There shall be many to look 

Steady and smiling into my eyes. 

Unafraid — as he was unafraid. 

[Again the sound of Taps, now distant, and 
when the listening groups are still again, the 
third figure, the Mother, stands before Death.] 

THE MOTHER 

I sent him forth. 'Twas from me. 
Before he came to birth. 
That he learned the high, clear call 
To give himself and to spend his life 
For a more triumphant earth. 

I sent him forth to the strife. 

'Twas done when he stood by my knee, 

And I taught him the loftiest names, 

[16] 



The singers and captains and heroes and saviors 
That died that the world might be free. 

I sent him forth when as a child 

I lit in his spirit the flames 

That burn for the lighting of man 

Out of the caverns dim where beguiled 

He brooded on ancient shames. 

I sent him forth. Bitter the hour, 

My son — and bitter the day: 

And a hope and a terror ran 

Through my heart that like one In a sentinel tower 

Watched for the morning's gray. 

I sent him forth to his chance; 

His life is gone like a breath; 

But 'twas I that guldoned his lance, 

(And I weep for the child I have lost). 

But the starry vision was mine that he followed 

To meet with thee, Death. 

Chorus 

To her who has borne a son 

And given a son, 

What shall be spoken? 

To the mothers of men, 

Now the life that they gave is broken. 

Is dead — 

What shall be said — zvhat shall be said? 

DEATH 

Life made her bear and rear the child — not I; 
But could she teach him what he learned of me? 
Life set the golden lamps before her soul; 
She followed them. Her son 
Came worthily and with clean heart to me. 
Giving the life he had for that great life 
Whose dawn is imminent. She understands, 
I chose him, and who knows how many times 

[17] 



It shall be his to die to shape the world 
More to the splendor of his soul's desire. 

[Again the bugle call, still fainter.] 

THE MAIDEN 

His soul's desire — yet — ah, how warm his heart! 

THE WIFE 

How lone his grave beneath a foreign sky ! 

THE MOTHER 

Death would not touch my brow instead of his. 

THE MAIDEN 

How Still he lies that was so strong — how pale. 

T H E W I F E 

How hollow now the world that was so rich! 

THE ^I OTHER 

Where turn we now? The onward path is lost. 

Chorus 
[As they sing they circle the central space,, 
their heads bowed.] 

Oh desolate hearth and roof-tree broken down! 

Oh house of tears! 

Oh city, oh land made dark 

Through the marching years! 

What shall bring back to us now 

From their far sleep 

The lads who fell? And what shall we do 

Save remember — and weep? 

Remember and weep. 

THE CRUSADER 

Cease ye from lamentation. They who died 
Have done their part. They asked no other end 
Than to give all. It is for us who live 
To see that these comrades sleeping sound 
Shall not have died in vain. 

[18] 



THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT 

Maidens and mothers, spirits of tears and song, 

Remember how they fell; and not your loss, 

But the world's deep enrichment by their lives 

Shall lift your hearts to face the newer day. 

Remember well, but weep no more; their names 

Write you In gold upon your dearest shrine; 

Forget them not. For you, they followed her. 

[Death rises majestically from her throne. The 
light begins to change, until at the end of 
Death's speech the entire stage is flooded with 
a golden radiance.] 

DEATH 

Hear me, ye women, and with steadfast souls 

Bear forth my word to all who fear and weep. 

From out the smoky darkness of the tent, 

Whose walls encompass dull mortality, 

My trumpets called these few — these golden few. 

Out of the tent they trooped, and, looking up, 

Saw, where I led them, all the zoned stars. 

Illimitable, filling the farthest skies 

With fires that wheeled in glory everlasting. 

They died well, and dying "so, live on. 

I touched their brows and set their spirits free, 

But freeing them, I bound the world they left 

To new, diviner purposes. You call me 'Death, 

But I am more than Death. In me 

The last devotion flames, and in my change. 

Which these have dared, is written all of "fame. 

All honor, and the v/akening of the world 

To LIfe-in-Glory— Man suflfused in God ! 

[And now the Chorus, flooded also with the 
golden light, catches her exaltation and lifts it 
in song^ 

Chorus 
Oh Life-in-Glory! Ye that died to live. 
Live on— Oh treaders of the pathway of the stars! 
[The lights fade, and the groups vanish.] 
[191 



Episode III 

PEACE 
THE VOICE OF YOUTH 

[Calling in the gloom.\ 

Time, I call thee forth — I conjure thee — 
Forever hiding in eternity — 

Appear, old Time — appear and answer me. 

TIME 

[Appearing, a dim gray figure on the elevation 

at the right.] 
Who calls me forth? Who clamors at the gate 
Of the dim future? 

YOUTH 

[Also appearing as the light at the foot of 
Time's elevation grows stronger.] 

1 am Youth who calls. 

TIME 

Ho — Youth the Wastrel — why call you on me? 

YOUTH 

I am no wastrel now. 

TIME 

Are you the youth who led the battle charge, 
And died? 

YOUTH 

Yea, I am he. 

TIME 

No wastrel? — ^you who poured your life away 
Like wine that spills that you may drink and dance 
In the same headlong breath? 

YOUTH 

I am the youth who died, 
And I am he who lives to face 

[20] 



Thy future, Time. I am all Youth that calls 
On thee to hearken. For I find the life 
That thou hast given fragile, and the soul 
That seemed so deep within me, now is poised 
For flights I had not dreamed. This ancient world 
So marked with thee, so sculptured by thy hand, 
Shakes, and remoulds itself. The night is filled 
With whisperings of change. Old things go down 
And new things struggle up against the sky; 
And I, because I died upon the crest, 
Fight on; because I lived beyond the flame, 
Question the hour. Time — old Time — answer me: 
For all the lives that I have given you. 
What do I get of you.^ That those sweet lives 
Shall not be given in vain — in vain.^ 

TIME 

Youth, Twill answer, but I will not shake 
The veil of years away. Your eyes I touch 
With light here to behold the nations, here 
To trace in shadowy symbols mighty things 
Touching thy recompense. My tread is slow; 
Not all your passion can anticipate 
The healing or the ruin by my hands 
Wrought in the world, or to be wrought hereafter. 
But Liberty still lives — you love her well: 
And Justice reigns — however slow his sword: 
And under them the breathing nations move, 
And sway, touch hands, and part, and cling again 
Like dust motes circling in the breath of God. 
You called me. Youth. I answer you — Behold! 

[Slowly out of the darkness the elevation at 
the left rises, and Justice and Liberty appear. \ 

LIBERTY 

Hail, Youth of the World— the Herald of my star ! 

JUSTICE 

Hail, Youth — who shall be guardian of my sword .^ 

[21] 



YOUTH 

Justice and Liberty ... I was not sure. 
Hail, both! I was not sure — and yet I fought 
For you. 

JUSTICE 

Too slowly for your eager heart 

I move. And yet because of you — because 

Of the dear lives you gave, I still endure. 

LIBERTY 

And I, out of your scarlet sacrifice, 

Have builded temples where of old the walls 

Of tyranny crowned the hill tops. Is this well? 

YOUTH 

What if I pour a thousand lives for you? 
I am content. And yet ... I am not sure. 

TIME 

Look, then, remembering how slowly I 

Mould and remould, create and discreate. 

The voices of the nations are for you. 

But listen well, and wait. I am not swift. 

You are not sure. Life sways to many wills. 

[Now the lights flood over the darkened cen- 
tral space, where around a great table, on 
whose rich cloth are jaded armorial bearings, 
the Nations are seen in council; their voices 
come slowly at first out of the vision.] 

FRANCE 

I speak you plain — I, France. 

Make now what terms ye will. League as ye dare. 

But let the sword of Justice fall. Let not 

The rage again be loosed. I have not shrunk 

From the fire's trial, but I will not bear 

Thrice, what I have borne. This were all in vain 

If still the same mad masters rule the world. 

They change, ye say. I trust not changing flags. 

Let the sharp fangs be drawn, and so bring peace 

To dwell as lastingly as may be on the land. 

[22] 



BRITAIN 

For Britain's power, my voice; 

Lead now the sulky ships to sea. They dared 

But little of the spray and sun. And sink 

Forever all the secret craft that smote 

From the green depths the goodly merchantmen. 

Unwillingly we met them at their trade, 

And now let their black trade be done. 

ITALY 

I was not quick to strike, but I have fought 
A hungry battle. Now I, Italy, 
Here claim the pledge of my ambition as 
Of my necessity. 

YOUTH 

Was it for this? I am not sure. . . . 

[The figures around the great table bend to 
their conferences, interchanging gestures and 
glances.] 

TIME 

Still wait, remembering — they have suffered much. 

YOUTH 

Only as I have suffered; ships and lands 
And flags that change — what things are these to me? 
I can not be as I was then. Let them not hope 
To tread again the old deep-channelled roads, 
Nor set things as they were. 

TIME 

Whate'er may pass, I turn not back. 

YOUTH 

True, Tirne. 

I listen still; so much is not in vain. 

AMERICA 

Nations in council, worn with bitter blows, 
And blinded still with crash of victories, 
Let here the fires of battle sink, and face 

[23] 



The newer tasks. Shaping the future peace, 
Let temperate Justice reign: and ancient wrongs, 
That bite the spirit deep, be righted first. 
Strike free the fettered peoples. Liberty 
Shall smile again on nations long in woe, — 
On Poland; the Czech-Slovak race; the Slavs 
Of the far South — the Jugo-Slavic strain; 
On LIkraina; on Armenia, lost in tears; 
On Palestine; and many a province more 
That bore upon its neck a foreign yoke. 
Or the dull straining discontent of forced 
Unnatural alliances. Let all 
These lands walk free. 

[Trumpets are heard off stage.] 

YOUTH 

This likes me better, Time. 

[Enter the re-established nations, led by 
Poland.] 

FRANCE 

[Coming forward, she salutes Poland, and 
gives her a great charter of liberties.] 

Poland, my sister, proud and desolate, 

Look you again on Liberty; and take again 

The symbol of your ancient sovereignty. 

[Poland kneels to receive the symbol.1 

POLAND 

As one who struggles from an evil dream 

Back to the morning and the light of life^ 

I greet you, nations. And for these who come, 

As I, out of the tyrannies, into 

Their several birthright freedoms, lift my voice: 

You can not know, as we, how sweet this hour, 

For you remember no such chains as ours. 

FRANCE 

Nay, I remember violent severance 

Of mine own blood and bone, now knit again. 

[24] 



LIBERTY 



For these who knew captivity, 

And these who long divided blindly fought, 

Brother with brother, let your judgment wait; 

They shall take up their burdens, bear their part 

Again in the world's ventures; but their steps 

Are not yet firm upon the soil re-won; 

But here I pledge you every land set free 

To guard its freedom, and to lift its face 

To the fresh dawn, and pray 

The sun to dry away the dark night's tears. 

[The new nations take their places iii the 
councils 



AMERICA 

We will be patient. We will understand. 

In time, though still the smoke of battle shadow 

So dark so many distant nations. Wait. 

Russia we see not here — Russia, who fought 

So long the battle of the right, whose generous blood 

Flowed for our cause in streams uncountable. 

And now — we know not. She hath veiled her face; 

And yet we know — she overthrew her Czar, 

And made an end of old autocracies ; 

What new pangs, new ecsUcies, are hers, 

Time shall at last disclose. And Germany, 

Humbled and broken, has cast off the crest 

Of her black eagles, and in her great fall 

The chains of her allied and subject powers 

Clang off, and new flags blaze against the sky. 

With charity to all, malice toward none, 

We stand in council. And if peace be slow, 

And not as we have seen her in our hope, 

Yet welcome her, and trust her. She will change 

And re-inspire the spent and laboring earth. 

[Music. Enter Peace; she comes before the 
Nations, hesitating and fearful.] 



[25] 



PEACE 

Nations, why have ye banished me? Am I, — 
The nourisher of all prosperities, 
The builder of delights, the saving prayer,— 
Am I so little worth? Ye trust me not? 

FRANCE 

We love thee, Peace, but thy voice singing soft 
Shall not again lull us to perilous sleep. 

ITALY 

And first let the old debts of wrath be paid. 

The harbor keys of golden shores be given 

To those who earned them on the crimsoned snows. 

PEACE 

I may not come to those whose hearts are closed. 
Nor those who grasp at gains beyond the bound 
That Justice marks. And yet— O Nations, call — 
Ah, call me home! I faint with wandering. 
[She sinks dozvn.] 

BRITAIN 

We call thee, Peace. We never wanted war. 
Never desired thine exile. 

PEACE 

I am not free to rise again. I fear. 

AMERICA 

What fearest thou? 

PEACE 

The clashing of these smothered discontents, 
And these ambitions that, like unleashed hounds, 
Range where they will. 

AMERICA 

List ye, O nations. 

Ye are white with wasted blood; your arms 

Are weary-laden with their victories, 

[26] 



And all the world's desire is rest, and yet 

Ye trust not Peace. Nor will she come again 

While one wild will may shatter all. League now, 

League all, and face the years to come 

With courage drawn from, all your souls, with power 

Drawn from all powers. And call Peace home forever. 

BRITAIN 

America, I pledge my far-flung line, 

My wandering argosies, my faith, to thee 

For this high League. 

FRANCE 

I am not so swift. Not words alone 

Shall make this pledge endure. Yet will I pledge, 

i\nd, having spoken, will abide. 

AMERICA 

Your sv\'Ords, 

O nations, and your flags aloft, proclaim 

Our covenant. 

[The flags of the nations oj-e raised, and their 

swords gleam in salute. ^ 

PEACE \Rising\ 
O day of joy — O time of home-coming! 
Rain in the spring, and sunlight after rain, 
And the rich bourgeoning of the earth, 
And the fulfillm_ent of the soul's desire! 

AMERICA 

Thy throne is over us. Ascend, sweet Peace. 

Powers of the world, here I salute you all. 

And set my sails for home. 

[America moves aside and withdraws . Peace 
ascends to the central throne, the nations 
grouped beside and below her. Youth speaks 
to Time.] 

YOUTH 

What wilt thou now unfold? 

[27] 



TIME 

Of what my future holds, I may not speak, 
Youth of the world, yet this I tell thee true: 
Peace Is beloved of peoples, not of kings; 
For peoples thrive beneath her, but loud wars 
Have brought together empires big with hate. 
Free peoples, loving Liberty, will die 
For her they love, but not for alien lands. 
Nor subject gold, nor purple over-sway. 
Look now about you, and where find you still 
Autocracies triumphant? Nay, alive .^ 
And say if I have given nothing for the lives 
You gave me yesterday. 

YOUTH 

I am content 

So far as I have won, I am content. 

And here set out on my new pilgrimage. 

With Justice, Peace and Liberty aloft. 

In the new morning of the world. Farewell. 

[Youth steps out gaily on his journey; the 
music sounds, and America re-enters, with her 
groups, belozv Time, on the right; at the same 
moment the Community Spirit leads on her 
group from the left, and all join in singing:] 
M}^ country! 'tis of thee. 
Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing; 
Land where my fathers died; 
Land of the pilgrims' pride; 
From every mountain side 
Let freedom ring! 

Our fathers' God, to Thee, 
Author of liberty. 

To Thee we sing: 
Long may our land be bright 
With freedom's holy light; 
Protect us by Thy might, 

Great God, our King. 

[28] 



NOTES FOR PRODUCTION 

The three Episodes of this pageant may be produced independently 
if desired, the Threnody (Episode II.) being readily available as a com- 
munity service in commemoration of the men lost in the war, without 
reference to the other two Episodes. The speaker representing the 
Community Spirit should, of course, be appropriately dressed to represent 
the City, or, if the work be given by a school or college, Alma Mater; 
and she should be so denominated in the programme. The "Action of 
the Pageant," as printed herewith, is useful as a synopsis in the printed 
programme, and helps materially the understanding of the Threnody, as 
it gives the words of the Chorus in full. 

The setting used in the open air is very simple, consisting of an 
elevation at each side of the stage, and at the back a third elevation 
bearing, during the second and third Episodes, a great, simple throne. 
The elevation at the right is used by America, and in the Third Episode 
by Time; that on the left by Victory, and in the Third Episode by 
Justice and Liberty. 

It is, of course, necessary that the lights be arranged on separate 
circuits so that the side elevations, and the spaces immediately before 
them, can be lighted independently of the centre of the stage. It is also 
important to the effect of the Threnody (Episode II) that the amber 
lights be on dimmers so that they may be gradually turned on during 
Death's final speech. An electric fan, properly concealed, is useful to 
the Victory effect in Episode I., though by no means essential. 

The costuming may be elaborate, but the effect of the performance 
depends less upon it than upon a clear and sincere delivery of the lines 
and music. 

To make the music effective employ the brass instruments as much 
as possible. 

In the choral music have the choruses kept unison and sung with 
full voice. 

[29] 




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